Evans named as new AFL football operations manager

The AFL has announced that Mark Evans will be the replacement for Adrian Anderson as the league's football operations manager.

Evans has been general manager of football operations at the Hawks since 2004 and deputy chief executive for the past 18 months. He previously worked at Melbourne.

He has beaten 140 applicants to win the role, with AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou saying he was pleased with the quality of the shortlist of candidates.

Demetriou used the announcement to confirm that the AFL's integrity and compliance unit would run as a standalone department.

The football administration Evans heads up will oversee such matters as the NAB Cup, the tribunal and the Laws of the Game Committee.

"I'm absolutely delighted to accept the offer to join the executive team," Evans said. "I just can't wait to start."

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Evans spent 11 and a half years as a schoolteacher before joining Melbourne in a player welfare role. He said the "passion, excitement and community feeling" of being involved in football immediately grabbed him.

Evans says his responsibilities at Hawthorn, including player welfare and media commitments, will stand him in good stead in his new role.

Hawthorn CEO Stuart Fox has wished Evans well in his new role.

"Mark has been an integral part of our executive management team and has made an outstanding contribution to our Club in his eight years at Hawthorn."

"Our Club philosophy is to grow and develop talented people, and no doubt the AFL has made a fantastic appointment in Mark.”

"Mark leaves for a great professional opportunity and all at the Club wish him every success in his new role."

Demetriou said two further appointments would be announced shortly,in the areas of people and culture and community engagement.

"This organisation is meeting the demands and challenges going forward with the best possible team..." Demetriou said.

Demetriou would not coment on the drug storm engulfing the Cronulla Sharks.

"I read what you read and I hear what you hear... it is impossible for me to comment..." Demetriou said.

He said the AFL was "working collaboratively" with ASADA to investigate whether Essendon has breached any drug guidelines, and emphasised that the Bombers had come forward to the league and the drug agencies and had requested the probe.

Demetriou said it would have been a "great injustice to the game" if the NAB Cup grand final had been held at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.

The match will be held this Friday in Melbourne, not Queensland, despite the Brisbane Lions having the best record in the competition.

But with the Lions' Gabba home ground unavailable, the league boss said holding the game in front of "five or seven thousand" people would have "done us no service".